Flexible coupling for magnetos



L. H. SMITH.

FLEXIBLECOUPLIN'G FOR MAGNETOS. APPLICATION FILED nec. I4, Iseo.

UNITrED STATES LEE H. SMITH, OF SEDAN, KANSAS.

FLEXIBLE COPLING FOR MAGNETOS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 2S, 1921.

Application filed December 14, 1920. Serial No. 430,614.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnn H. SMrrH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sedan, in the county ot Chautauqua, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Flexible Couplings Jor lilagnetos, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing', and to the tigures oi reference marked thereon.

rllhis invention relates to shalt couplings, and more particularly to a flexible shaft coupling for driving,- a magneto or generator from the usual engine shaft.

The main object ot this invention is to provide a flexible driving;- connection between two shafts, and particularly between the power shait orp a gas engine and the sha-tt ot a magneto, which will permit a certain amount ot flexible disalinement of these shafts and which will also permit the ready angular displacement of one sha-ft relative to the other without disturbing the fixed position of the magneto.

A further object of this inventionY is to provide a flexible coupling,- ot the character described which is noiseless and in which the wear on parts is reduced to a minimum and automatically compensated tor.

Still another feature of this invention is to provide a coupling olf few parts and simple construction arranged so that the magneto shaft may be readily adjusted without the necessity ot moving or loosening the magneto from its location on the engine.

A still further object ot this invention is to provide a means for sealing the adjustment of the coupling?,` parts to prevent unauthorized and igno ant 'tampering therewith.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of the preferred form oi my coupling;

Fig'. 2 is a sertion on the line 2-2 of 'l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. i3 is a section of Fig. 1 taken at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an inside view oi" the outer shell member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view ot the inner shell member;

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view of the floating connecting ring, and

Fig. 7 isa detail view showing the modilied manner of connecting` one ot the shafts to pne of the shell members.

in general, the invention comprises two circular shell members et spring steel con nected to opposed alined shafts and arranged so that one shell nests within the other. 2fach shell is provided with one or more resilient arms preferably integral with the shell and formed with a plurality or" proyccting studs. These arms on the inner shell member are sprung,` slightly outwardly, while those on the outer member are sprung slightly inwardly. Between theseshells is arranged an independent ring or shell provided Vwith spaced perforations to receive the Voutwardly projecting' studs on the inner shell member and likewise to receive the in wardly projecting studs on the outside shell member. ln this manner, the independent ring locks the two shell members in lin-ed position, from which position they may be readily adjusted relatively by springing.; the arms of the outer shell out ot their locking' engagement with the ringperlorations and moving them angularly with respect to the ring;` and then permitting' the arias to4 snap into the new locking' position.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanyingv drawings, the shaft l has fixed thereto as at 2 by a pin or other cou* pling, the hub 3 of any desired shape or size,

` carrying an outer shell member el, preferably circular in shape,` although it is within the contemplation of this invention to form this shell as a multisided member, such as an octagonal outer member. This vouter shell 4*, which preferably is a fabricated stamping, is of such a composition that it will mildly temper, and when so tempered will possess a certain amount of resiliency. One or more portions at points diametricalV or otherwise are cut in this outery shell as by means of a peripheral slot 5 joined by a transverse slot 6 to provide a resilient wing or wings?, which in the case of the outer shell, are bent inwardly as at 8 (Fig. 4) to provide a resilient connection,` as hereinafter described. Preferably in the free ends 9 of these wings are formed one or more y inwardly projecting studs or lugs 10. These studs or serrationslO are made by cutting L between these ends and forcing it inwardly as above described to provide well defined engaging shoulders, it is quite possible that these transverse ribs or serraticns may be made byl flowing the metal in to provide these square shoulders. Fixed to the op posite alined shaft 11 as by means of a nut V12E-on the threaded end 13 thereof is a hub 1a to which the inner shaft member 15 is connected. This shell member is sufficiently smaller than the outer shell to permit the inserted shell or floating ring to enter freely when nested therebetween. Otherwise the inner shell is made identically the 1 same as the outer shell member with the exception that the resilient wings 16 are given an outward bend and the serrations 17 thereof are projected outwardly. `rlhis inner` shell 15 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cuter shell into which it nests. Arranged between the circumferential outer face of the inner shell 15 and the circumferential Vouter face Vof the outer shell i is an independent locking orffioating circular shell 18 provided with a series of spaced slots or indentures V19 extending all the way through the ring.

As shown, these slots are spaced at equal intervals around the circumference of the vshell and are arranged so that the width of the holes 19 and the metal between them are approximately equal and represent the minimum circular degree range of setting for the coupling whichv in construction. can be made small enough for all practical usage.

ln assembling the coupling, the floating ring 1S is forced inside the outer shell a and the projections 7 thereof snap into the slots 19 in the ring and the wings 7 exert a spring tension. inwardly on the ring 18. The inner shell 15 with its shaft'11 is then forced'inside of the ring 18 with the ends ofthe wings 1.6 approximately ninety degrees from the ends of the wings Z of the outer shell. These serrations .17 on the inner shell likewise snap into the slots 19 on the circular ring and these wings exert a spring tension outwardly. Thus the floating ring 18 is held between the outer and inner pressures and cannot rattle or come out of the assembled structure, and the resilient wings 7 vand 16 being free and flexible, automatically give and talreup any misalinlement of the shaftsof the coupling. y lt will be particularly noticed that there will be enough clearance betweenthe inner and outer shells tol permit slight lateral movement therebetween, and any looseness due to this clearance, kis taken up by spring arms to thus prevent rattling.v To change and properly set theV spark timing, it is merely necessary to spring the wings ofthe outer shell outward until the serrations 10 thereof clear the slots 19 of the floating ring and then turn the magneto shaft and'this half of the coupling the proper amount and direction Vand then let the serrations snap back into the corresponding slots 19 in the floating ring. j v

To prevent tampering with the coupling setting, a screw 20,1 shown in Figrl, can be optionally provided. The head of this screw extends across the transverse slot 6 which forms the free endof the wing, and over the free end thereof, thus preventing the wing from being lifted. By soldering or waxing the screw in place, the coupling is effectively sealed. For convenience in expeditious adjustment, part of the head of the screw, as at 21, is cut away so that the screw need only be turned a part of a revolution to allow the adjustment of the magneto.

llig. 7 shows a sectional view of one of the shell members, ysay 15, and the manner of mounting it in reversed position to one of the hub members 14.

lWhile it is obviously within the contem-V plation of thisinvention to include a construction. not involving the intermediate floating ring, the preferred form includes such member. lt is also understood that'it is not intended to limit the invention to shells, but the outer and inner members may be of any construction permitting the function of a flexible connection of themanner described.

lt is obvious that minor changes in lthe details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Y

Having thus described the invention, what 'lr claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is-

1. ril`he combination of a pair-of alined shafts,` a spring metal shell fixed to one oil said shafts, a spring metal shell connected to said other raft and nesting within said first shell, and means resiliently connecting said shells andforming a flexible driving connection therebetween, said means permitting the relative angular'adjustment of said members. Y

' 2. rlhe combination of a pair ofalined shafts, a sjningmetal shell fixed to one shaft, a spring metal shell connected to said other shaft and nesting within said first shell, a spring metal shell fioatingly mounted between said shells and resilient means for locking said shells indriving position, said means permitting the relative angular adjust ient of said shells.

3. In combination, alined driving shafts,`

a recessed Vmember connected to one shaft,

second member connected to the other shaft and nesting within said recessed membei', an independent member between said inner and outer members, and means forining a driving connection between said members and iiidependent member while permitting a limited lateral movement of said members relatively, said means permitting the relative rotary adjustment of said meinn bers.

'l. ,ln combination, a shaft, an outer shell connected therewith having a suitable number of resilient inwardly projecting wings, a second shaft, an .inner shell connected thereto, nesting within said outer shell and having a suitable number of resilient outwardly projecting wings, and an independent ring arranged between said shells and adapted to be engaged by said wings to provide a driving connection between said shafts.

5. ln combination, a shaft, an outer shell connected therewith having a suitable num ber of resilient inwardly projecting wings, a second shaft, an inner shell connected thereto, nesting within said outer shell and having a suitable number of resilient outwardly projecting wings, an independent ring arranged between said shells and adapted to be engaged by said wings to provide a driving connection between said shafts, and means whereby said wings may engage said shell in various positions of angular adjustment.

6. ln combination, a shaft, a spring metal shell connected thereto, i and slotted at a suitable number of places to provide a suitable number of inwardly pressing wings, the inner portion of said wings being formed with a suitable number of locking projections, a second shaft, a spring metal shell connected thereto and nesting within said outer shell, said inner shell being slotted at desired points to provide a suitable number of outwardly pressing wings formed on their free ends with. outwardly projecting locking projections, and an independent ring arranged between said inner and outer shell niemlliers and provided with spaced recesses to receive the projections of said wing members.

7. ln combination. a shaft, a spring metal outer shell connected thereto and provided with a plurality of slotted portions forming integral wings having free ends curved inwardly and spirally to exert a spring tension inwardly, the free ends of said wings bein g formed with inwardly projecting loclring members, a second shaft, an inner spring metal shell nesting within the same and suitably slotted to provide a plurality of resilient wings curved outwardly and spirally to exert an outward spring tension, said wings likewise having a suitable number of outwardly projecting locking members, and an independent ring fitting within said inner and outer shell members and formed with a plurality of circumferential recesses to receive said locking members.

8. ln combination, a shaft, an outer spring metal shell connected thereto, provided with a plurality of integral inwardly projecting spring wings, said wings being formed on their free ends with the desired number of inwardly projecting locking lugs formed by slitting the metal of the wings transversely of its lateral sides, and punching the same inwardly, a second shaft, an inner shell connected therewith and nesting within the outer shell, and formed with the desired number of integral resilient wings provided with outwardly projecting locking lugs circularly formeel, and a floating ring member formed with spaced slots fitting within the inner and outer shell members and adapted to receive the locking projections thereof.

9. In combination, a shaft, an outer shell suitably slotted to provide a resilient inwardly pressing wing provided with a free end formed with a suitable number of inwardly projecting locking lugs, a second shaft, an inner shell nesting within the same and formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting resilient wings lprovided with a plurality of outwardly facing locking lugs, an independent ring arranged between said shell members and provided with spaced re cesses for receiving said projections, and a locking screw attached to said outer shell member and arranged with respect to the free end of said inwardly projecting resilient wing so that the head of the screw will lie across the free end of the wing and prevent its outward displacement.

l0. In combination, a shaft, an outer shell suitably slotted to provide a resilient inwardly pressing wing provided with a free end formed with a suitable number of inwardly projecting locking lugs, a second shaft, an inner shell nesting within the same and formed with a plurality of outwardly projecting resilient wings provided with a plurality of outwardly facing locking' lugs, an independent ring arranged between said shell members and provided with spaced recesses for receiving said projections, and a locking screw attached to said outer shell member and arranged with respect to the freeend of said. inwardly projecting resilient wing so that the head of the screw will lie across the free end of the wing and prevent its outward displacement, said screw having a cut away portion so that upon the partial turning of the screw, said cut away portion will clear the end of the wing whereby said wing may be forced outwardly.

In testimony whereof, l aiiiX my signature.

LEE n. SMITH. 

